222 GRAMINEAE. 



8. Bromus hordeaceus L. Soft Chess. (Fig. 513.) 



Bromus hordeaceus L. Sp. PI. 77. 1753. 

 Bromus mollis I,. Sp. PI. Ed. 2, 112. 1762. 



Culms 8'~3 tall, erect, often slender, usually pubes- 

 cent below the panicle. Sheaths shorter than the in- 

 ternodes, mostly pubescent; ligule y 2 " long; leaves 

 \ f ~7 f long, i // -3 // wide, pubescent; panicle generally 

 contracted, its branches erect or ascending, i / -2 / long; 

 spikelets appressed-pubescent, on short pedicels; 

 empty scales acute, the first 3-nerved, the second 

 longer, 5~7-nerved; flowering scales broad, obtuse, 

 3^ // -4^ // long, 7-g-nerved, bearing an awn 3 // -4 // in 

 length between the obtuse or acute teeth. 



In fields and waste places, New York to Virginia. 

 Locally adventive from Europe. July-Aug. 



9. Bromus secalinus L,. Cheat. Chess. (Fig. 514.) 



Bromus secalinus I,. Sp. PI. 76. 1753. 



Culms i-3 tall, erect, simple, smooth and glabrous. 

 Sheaths usually shorter than the internodes, generally 

 glabrous; ligule y 2 " long, erose; leaves z'-g' long, i"- 

 3" wide, smooth or rough, sometimes hairy; panicle 2'- 

 8' in length, open, its branches ascending or drooping; 

 spikelets turgid, glabrous, erect or somewhat pendulous, 

 6-io- flowered; empty scales scabrous toward the apex, 

 the first 3-nerved, acute, the second longer and broader, 

 7-nerved, obtuse; flowering scales 2 // ~4 // l n g> broad, 

 turgid, obtuse, rough toward the apex, the nerves ob- 

 scure awnless, or bearing a straight awn 4" long or less 

 between the obtuse short teeth; palet about equalling 

 the scale. 



In fields and waste places almost throughout temperate 

 North America, often a pernicious weed in grain fields. 

 Naturalized from Europe. Native also of Asia. June-Aug. 



io. Bromus racemosus L,. 



Upright Chess. Smooth Brome-grass. 

 (Fig. 5150 



Bromus racemosus I,, Sp. PI. Ed. 2, 114. 1762. 



Culms i-3 tall, erect, simple, smooth and gla- 

 brous, or sparingly pubescent below the panicle. 

 Sheaths shorter than the internodes, glabrous or 

 pubescent; ligule i // long; leaves I'-g'long, y 2 "-tf f 

 wide, pubescent; panicle I'-io' in length, the 

 branches erect or ascending, the lower sometimes 

 2^' long; spikelets erect, 5-11 -flowered; empty 

 scales acute, the first 3-nerved, the second longer 

 and broader, 5-o.-nerved; flowering scales broad, 

 2/^2 // ~4/4 // long, obtuse, smooth and shining, the 

 nerves prominent; awn straight, 3 // -4 // in length; 

 palet considerably shorter than the scale. 



In fields and waste places all over the eastern United 

 States and British America; also on the Pacific toast. 

 Naturalized from Europe. Native also of Asia. June- 

 Aug. 



